| The
60-Mile South Coast Tour starts and finishes at the Curry County Fairgrounds
in
Gold Beach. This wonderful ride takes you up the South Bank of the Rogue River
to Lobster Creek then back downstream along the North Bank, up into bucolic
Cedar Valley, and to your first rest stop at the old Ophir School. From there
you ride down the historic Old Coast Highway through Ophir, across US
Highway101, and through Nesika Beach. The route puts you briefly onto
Highway 101 where you join the Oregon Coast Bike Route before dropping back onto
the Old Coast Highway all the way to the historic Isaac Patterson bridge. You
then cross over Highway 101 again and head back upstream along the Rogue River
to your next rest stop at Tu Tu' Tun Lodge. From there it's on to Lobster Creek
then back downstream along the South Bank. There are a couple small climbs (with
fun descents down the other side) but the route is generally rolling hills
through beautiful rural coastal scenery. For a map of the route, click here. The following chart gives approximate mileage and directions from the start of the route through to the finish. Each rider will be given a copy of this Ride Log at registration. Note: [B] denotes restroom facilities available. |
|
Miles from start |
Description |
|
0.0 |
Start on 10th Street, turn RIGHT on Ellensburg Avenue (US Highway 101) |
| 0.3 | Straight through stoplight on 6th Street |
| 0.8 | Straight through stoplight on Moore Street |
| 1.4 | Turn RIGHT onto Jerry's Flat Road and head up the south bank of the Rogue River |
| 8.4 | Huntley Park Campground [B] |
| 11.0 | Nice waterfall on your right |
| 11.4 | Turn LEFT and cross Lobster Creek Bridge (click here for photo of bridge) |
| 11.7 | Veer LEFT and ride down the hill. GO SLOW! There's a sharp turn at the bottom of the hill! |
| 11.9 | Cross the one lane bridge over Lobster Creek |
| 17.5 | Take a sharp RIGHT onto Squaw Valley Road |
| 23.7 | Cedar Bend Golf Course. You can talk with the golfers and make fun of each other's shoes [B] |
| 25.7 | Turn RIGHT onto Ophir Road |
| 26.0 | Turn RIGHT at Euchre Creek Road into the Old Ophir School for your first rest stop [B] |
| 26.0 | Turn LEFT out of Euchre Creek Road and head south on Ophir Road |
| 30.1 | Turn RIGHT at the stop sign, |
| 30.1 | Cross over US Highway 101 into downtown Nesika Beach |
| 30.8 | Downtown Nesika Beach: Market, Post Office, and Gas Station |
| 31.4 | Turn RIGHT onto US Highway 101 |
| 33.3 | Turn RIGHT onto the Old Coast Highway. |
| 34.5 | Cattle guard. (Bah-Bump Bah-Bump) Watch for blackberry thorns sticking through the grate. |
| 36.3 | Another cattle guard. (Bah-Bump Bah-Bump again) |
| 36.8 | Cross over Highway 101 |
| 38.8 | Start the climb up Racetrack Hill |
| 39.5 | Summit of Racetrack Hill |
| 40.6 | Turn Right at Rogue River Park [B] onto North Bank Rogue. Watch for chickens on the road. |
| 42.0 | Continue on North Bank Rogue past Squaw Valley Road |
| 43.6 | Rest Stop at Tu Tu' Tun Lodge. Food and drinks await you here. [B] |
| 44.4 | Ride past Libby Pond. Breathe through your nose or be prepared to swallow a bug or two. |
| 47.6 | Single lane bridge over Lobster Creek |
| 47.7 | Start short but steep climb up to East Lobster Road OOF! |
| 47.8 | Summit of climb. Take a couple deep breaths then turn RIGHT onto East Lobster Road |
| 47.9 | Cross Rogue River on Lobster Creek Bridge (click here for photo of bridge) |
| 48.1 | Turn RIGHT onto Jerry's Flat Road |
| 48.5 | There's that waterfall again |
| 49.7 | Summit of Kimball Hill. Nice place to take a break and enjoy great views up and down the river. |
| 51.1 | Huntley Park Campground [B] |
| 54.3 | Begin Bike Lane |
| 55.2 | End Bike Lane |
| 58.7 | Turn LEFT onto US Highway 101 |
| 59.2 | Straight through stoplight on Moore Street |
| 59.5 | Straight through stoplight on 6th Street |
| 59.8 | Turn RIGHT into Event Center on the Beach for finish. Food and drinks await you here. [B] |